1. Real Madrid
Something happens to Real when they play in the Champions League. Simply put, the winners of three of the last four tournaments take their collective game up a notch.
No player exemplifies this comfort on the big stage more than Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored three of his team’s goals during the 5-2 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
His header in the second leg continued another fantastic scoring run in Europe’s premier club competition, according to OptaJose:
9 - Cristiano Ronaldo is the second player in #UCL history to score in nine consecutive games (14 goals), after Ruud van Nistelrroy for Manchester United in 2003 (12). Monster. pic.twitter.com/oUiaZLqYHi
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 6, 2018
As good as Ronaldo is, there is more to Los Blancos‘ Champions League success than their free-scoring No. 7. Honest.
The midfield is anchored by the best holding player on the continent, Casemiro. Meanwhile, not many defenses have a talisman as capable as skipper Sergio Ramos.
Real are even trusting their young stars more often, with 22-year-old maestro Marco Asensio outstanding during the 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes.
It’s not easy pointing to an obvious winner beyond the holders.